Mary Ann (Cea) Lofreso

MARY LOFRESO (Nonna’s)

Mary Ann Lofreso (Cea), beloved wife, mother, daughter, aunt, and Nonna, passed away peacefully on June 8th, 2025, surrounded by her family. She was 93 years old.

Born on August 6th, 1931, in New York City to Theresa and Vincent Cea, her family moved to Bari, Italy when she was three years old. She was the prime example of a little girl in Italy, making trips to the market, carrying homemade bread dough to be baked at the community ovens, and helping to cover the fig trees at the changing of the seasons. Her father decided to move to America for a better future for his family. Then WWII broke out and kept the family separated for many years. When the war ended, he was finally able to send for his family to board a ship to Ellis Island. Mary settled in Akron at the age of 15. A real testament to the American dream, she often recalled kissing the ground the moment she saw the Statue of Liberty.

Not knowing one word in English, Mary put her strong belief in hard work to the test, quickly learning a new language, eventually running her own pizza shops, and raising a family of her own. Her sons, Tony and Michael, were her pride and joy. She proudly dressed her little boys to the nines, taught them to cook, and made them her right-hand men for life.

She was loved by so many, always the best entertainer, life of the party, and a role model to everyone. She never slowed down, taking care of family, competing in a bowling league, playing Bridge weekly with her card girls, serving as president of the Cassenese Auxiliary Italian Club for many years and a representative for the Italian-American Council, and volunteering for the Italian Festival in Cuyahoga Falls for so many to enjoy her culture.

A proud, strong, Italian woman, Mary made priceless memories with everyone she met. She had the best laughs with her Sonny and spent so many hours playing Euchre, Zilch and Kings in the Corner with her grandchildren. She taught them to make her authentic meatballs, calzones, cavatelli, sauce and many more recipes. She spoiled all of those she loved. As her grandson once said, “Nonna is old, but she is rich!” She really was rich in love, humor, strength and generosity. She will be missed greatly but leaves a special legacy behind. She held her faith and family close and never wavered in her belief that anything is possible with enough hard work and prayer. The family she made is living proof of this and will carry on her example each and every day.

Mary is survived by her two sons, Anthony (Kathy) and Michael (Lia), her beloved grandchildren: Anthony Jr. (Bridgette), Vincent (Mary), Frank, Dominic, Mary, Joseph, Angelina, Adam, Elizabeth and Mohammadu, and her seven prized great-grandchildren: Celine, Damian, Thérèse, Luke, Benedict, Theodore and Ruthie. She is preceded in death by her husband, Sebastian “Sonny,” parents Vincent and Theresa Cea, and her siblings, Marcia (Andy) Vinciguerra and Vito (Angela) Cea.

Calling hours are 5-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Ciriello & Carr Funeral Home, 39 S. Miller Rd. Fairlawn, OH 44333. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Hilary Catholic Church, 2750 W. Market St. Fairlawn, OH 44333. Burial at Northlawn Memorial Gardens will follow the Mass.

In honoring Mary’s memory and in lieu of flowers, the family is encouraging donations to St. Jude. https://www.stjude.org

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